Page:The complete poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar.pdf/87



ain't no use in all this strife, An' hurryin', pell-mell, right thro' life. I don't believe in goin' too fast To see what kind o' road you've passed. It ain't no mortal kind o' good, 'N' I would n't hurry ef I could. I like to jest go joggin' 'long, To limber up my soul with song; To stop awhile 'n' chat the men, 'N' drink some cider now an' then. Do' want no boss a-standin' by To see me work; I allus try To do my dooty right straight up, An' earn what fills my plate an' cup. An' ez fur boss, I'll be my own, I like to jest be let alone, To plough my strip an' tend my bees, An' do jest like I doggoned please. My head's all right, an' my heart 's meller, But I'm a easy-goin' feller.

my lady home las' night,
 * Jump back, honey, jump back,

Hel' huh han' an' sque'z it tight,
 * Jump back, honey, jump back.

Hyeahd huh sigh a little sigh, Seen a light gleam f'om huh eye, An' a smile go flittin' by—
 * Jump back, honey, jump back.

Hyeahd de win' blow thoo de pine,
 * Jump back, honey, jump back.

Mockin'-bird was singin' fine,
 * Jump back, honey, jump back.

An' my hea't was beatin' so, When I reached my lady's do', Dat I could n't ba' to go—
 * Jump back, honey, jump back.

Put my ahm aroun' huh wais',
 * Jump back, honey, jump back.

Raised huh lips an' took a tase,
 * Jump back, honey, jump back,

Love me, honey, love me true? Love me well ez I love you? An' she answe'd, "'Cose I do"—
 * Jump back, honey, jump back.

He scribbles some in prose and verse,
 * And now and then he prints it;

He paints a little,—gathers some
 * Of Nature's gold and mints it.

He plays a little, sings a song,
 * Acts tragic rôles, or funny;

He does, because his love is strong,
 * But not, oh, not for money!